Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Grass
Origin
Southern Africa
Middle Africa
Types
Perennial
Perennial Grass
Habitat
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
Floodplains, Forest margins, Tropical regions, waterways, Wet lands, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-10
7-11
AHS Heat Zone
10-8
12 - 1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown
Sandy Brown
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Brown
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green
Purple
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Purple
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Purple
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Long Linear
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Summer, Late Summer
Tolerances
Drought
Cold climate, Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Rhizome division, Seedlings
Budding, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
Requires regular watering, Water more in summer
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Pruning
Remove dead leaves
Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
Nitrogen, organic fertlizers
Pests and Diseases
Nematodes, Scale
Insects, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Cold climate, Drought, Salt
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Attracts
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Birds, Flying insects
Allergy
Skin irritation
Asthma, breathing problems
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
-
Environmental Uses
Ethnobotanic
Air purification, Amazing growth rate, Food for animals, Food for insects, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife, Windbreak
Medicinal Uses
-
Eye Problems, Headache, Skin Disorders, Wounds
Part of Plant Used
Root
Leaves, Seeds
Other Uses
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant
Food for animals, Used As Food
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens
Bedding Plant, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border
Botanical Name
DIETES bicolor
PENNISETUM purpureum 'Prince'
Common Name
African iris, Fortnight lily
Elephant Grass
In Hindi
African Iris
हाथी घास
In German
Afrikanische Iris
Elefantengras
In French
African Iris
l'herbe à éléphant
In Spanish
Iris africano
pasto elefante
In Greek
Αφρικανική Iris
ελέφαντα χόρτο
In Portuguese
Iris africano
capim-elefante
In Polish
Afryki Iris
trawa słoniowa
In Latin
African Iris
elephanti herba
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Subfamily
Iridoideae
Panicoideae
Importance of African Iris and Elephant Grass
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of African Iris and Elephant Grass. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare African Iris and Elephant Grass as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of African Iris is whereas of Elephant Grass is Eye Problems, Headache, Skin Disorders and Wounds. African Iris has beauty benefits as follows: while Elephant Grass has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of African Iris vs Elephant Grass
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of African Iris vs Elephant Grass and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of African Iris are Skin irritation whereas of Elephant Grass have Asthma and breathing problems respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. African Iris has no showy fruits and Elephant Grass has no showy fruits. Also African Iris is not flowering and Elephant Grass is not flowering . You can compare African Iris and Elephant Grass facts and facts of other plants too.